#Japan Rail pass

[worldofpegasus]

A Legendary Journey Through Japan

🌸 Do You Know What Secrets Japan Hides? Let Pegasus Show You! 🌸

Dive into the heart of Japan! 🇯🇵 We're uncovering Japan's best-kept secrets. ✨

👉 Click below to join the Legendary Journey Through Japan with Pegasus.

[nobu11051991]

Narita Airport Train Ticket Office and SUICA card vending machine!

Narita Airport Train Ticket Office and SUICA card vending machine!

Narita Airport Train Ticket Office and SUICA card vending machine! Hi I’m Nobu, I like traveling overseas and in Japan, visited 25 countries! I’m a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of English for 8 years. For the people who are interested in and planning trip to Japan ,I show you hidden local information which you have never seen and heard of through books and ordinary site! You…

[cerealandchoccymilk]

(shaking) book-off please please please please have trigun maximum omnibus version please only be out of stock on book-off online please this thing is out of print and theres no ebook or torrent for this anywhere ggrrrgrehegrgeGUHEUGRHFOAMINGATTHEMOUTH

[thedalatribune]

© Paolo Dala

JR Pass

Traveling through Japan using the Japan-wide JR Pass has always been a dream of mine. In 2019 I wanted to get this pass, but I couldn’t afford it… I was still having second thoughts if I should be getting it during my recent Japan trip. It’s still quite expensive for me, but the JR Pass will increase by 70% starting October 2023.

So, I decided to get it because I might not be able to afford it in my next Japan visit… It didn’t disappoint, BTW.

[travelerguide1]

Get the Japan Rail Pass to Discover Japan's Magnificence – HIS offer the Best Deal!

Have you ever had the desire to see Japan's stunning scenery, modern cities, and affluent way of life? Look no similar to the Japan Rail Pass Price, your ticket to a seamless tour throughout the Land of the Rising Sun. At HIS, we're proud to provide the first-class costs on this must-have pass, making your Japanese journey greater inexpensive and handy than ever.

Access to Japan's extensive railway network, which includes the well-known Shinkansen(bullet train), is unrestricted with the Japan Rail Pass. The JR Pass covers you whether you want to visit the peaceful landscapes of Hokkaido, the ancient temples of Kyoto, the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, or the busy metropolis of Tokyo.

Our aggressive expenses make certain that you get the most fee from your trip. Choose from a range of bypass periods to swimsuit your tour plans, whether or not it is a brief getaway or a prolonged exploration. It's now not simply cost-effective; it additionally saves you the problem of buying personal tickets for every leg of your journey.

With the Japan Rail Pass from HIS, you may journey in relief and fashion whilst making the most of your time in Japan. Plus, it is a remarkable way to ride the country's stunning surroundings along the way. Don't leave out out on this remarkable chance to see Japan, and do not overlook a look at our unique provides and reductions to make your outing even extra budget-friendly. Explore Japan easily with HIS – the place your journey begins!

[chaddavisphotography]

A Japan Rail ticket machine in Tokyo Japan.

[cliffdog01]

JR Rail Pass Price Hike | Update & Info (August 2023)  ONLY in JAPAN * GOONLY in JAPAN * GO

I wish when they were creating new passes, they made a Tokyo-only pass for 5000Y because I'd buy that or a pass that works with all the companies inside Tokyo. In Sydney and in Wellington, you could get passes like that. In Sydney, my family used a pass to go from our Motel in Parramatta out to the city via train/subway and then used Ferries to go to Manly and the Paramatta Wharf; it was a blast.

[queenerdloser]

i’ve been actually putting my budget in a spreadsheet bc i’m trying to save more money to actually move out of my apartment (into a bigger apartment??? a house?????? in this economy??) but what i’m really getting from actually keeping a very tight look on my expenses (e.g. checking them every other day instead of like... once a month) is that i am absolutely insane about take-out. why do i spend so much money on delivered food. (it’s because i cant cook.) i know this is interesting literally only to me but every time i check my budget spreadsheet i’m appalled all over again at myself.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - I'm DELIGHTED by so much goodness, also I lust after a boy's robot's pants

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Feb 2024 Wk 1

Ongoing Series - Thai

The Sign (Sat YT) ep 11 of 12 - I support the fact that the producers seem to have decided that even in uniform Yai never needs to wear sleeves. Hear hear.

No sleeves for Yai ever again!

On the other hand, why doesn’t anyone ever wear gloves? Going around touching evidence all willy nilly like that.

No to sleeves. Yes to gloves.

People. Sheesh. Get with the program.

Anygay, this is such a fun show. I could watch 50 episodes of this abject nonsense. I’m sad it’s gonna be ending. And I don’t say that often about Thai BL. 

Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 12 of 14 - Oh has Jeff been kidnapped again? Here, let's throw fruit at Babe and think about it for a bit. Tra la la. Trash watch happening here.

Cooking Crush (Sun YT) ep 9 of 12 - They are such very good boyfriends. Also, this is a ton of kissing for OffGun. I’m at a loss as to how they are going to turn this into a decent 12 ep show. Unfortunately, I’ve foresee it going off the rails - pacing seems off. 

For Him (Thurs iQIYI) ep 10 of 12 - We have our little No Comebacks twist. The sides are growing on me, but now the mains are boring me. The sudden gun-toting new characters are just weird. It’s like they took the script and just threw it down a staircase, gathered it back up again, then filmed that. 

City of Stars (Fri iQIYI) ep 1 of 12 - Fueang is an actor in the midst of crisis and scandal. Normally I don’t like Thai BL when it’s tackles celebrity and this is... yep, the same. Our actor is pitted against an older worried nerdy app developer, Krom. And I feel that dynamic - hyung romance, jock/nerd? Very nice. But it’s also very Star Hunter. Never met a trope they didn’t wanna do a million times over - in the very first episode. Also I think I’m not a fan of the actor playing the lead. 

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) ep 24fin - The blond who comes to get his hair shaved looks just like Fluke T (SOTUS et al). And even more like him after the shaving (My Bromance et al). Is that him? MDL doesn't say.

Anygay... something something: Orphan. Cancer. Kisses. Dream. Death. 'Bout what I expected. 2/10 even with a decent kiss I don’t do dream sequences and I don’t like death in my BL 

All in all, I’m relieved that that’s over. The series is a slog. And in general I don’t recommend it. I plan to promptly forget its entire existence. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Love For Love's Sake (Korea Weds iQIYI) eps 3-4 of 8 - There is so much to adore about this show. The two younger guys who are suddenly in competition for the one older one. You know hyung romances are my favs. A hyung love triangle? COME ON. Also, I got to say this one’s giving me second lead syndrome. I do love me a brat. Add in all this on honorific play and linguistic flirting (as their should be in age gap). This is just THE BEST show. 

Look I gotta say this: the "Who did this to you?" trope (AKA who hurt you?) is the single most popular romance trope right now, remarkable to see it turn up in a BL. And pleasing. Trust Korea to be ON TREND. It's their national agenda. *respect*

Perfect Propose (Japan Fri Gaga) eps 1-2 of 6 - From Fuji TV (who brought us the Pornographer series) adapted from Mayo Tsurakame’s manga, production team includes Tadaaki Horai (My Love Mix-Up!) and Takeshi Miyamoto (scriptwriter for Old Fashion Cupcake). Hiro’s so stressed at work he barely has time to eat so he passes out on the sidewalk. An unfamiliar face saves him and insists that they once promised to marry each other.

Ready?

Oh I fucking love it. Sullen, out gay, younger seme with serious grumpy overprotective tendencies and beautiful possessive cat eyes? Well, it’s not dimples, but it’s still my catnip. Also they are moving very quickly. Hand jobs already? + dub con seasoning? Say it with me everyone:

Oh Japan, must you? 

Apparently, you must. And I must enjoy it. Carry on.

Please reread those producer creds and understand what we are in for. Okay? I would urge you to avoid this one if you get squeamish when JBL does what... JBL does.

AntiReset (Taiwan Fri Viki/Gaga) eps 1-2 of 10 - I really enjoy the character of an OCD intellectual automaton professor, contrasted to a warm and sunshine actual robot. Out the gate, this is oozing Taiwanese domesticity, we can only hope they juice it with their usual standard of heat too. 

All puns aside: It’s charming and I’m charmed. Does Taiwan finally have another winner on its hands?

I do adore Taiwan's aesthetics: The house designs, the suit designs, the human designs. I wouldn't say no to the robot’s pants either. Very cool. Can I order them in black?

Although I Love You and You AKA Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yaro ka (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 4 of 10 - The birthday confession was a bit much. But I love how mature the reactions were. It reminded me a little bit of I Cannot Reach You. Always a good thing. 

Girl: I like you. 

Sakae: sorry, not intersted 

Girl: what am I lacking? 

Sakae: a dick 

What you mean it didn’t go that way?

Happy Ending (Korea Tues YT) 2 of 3 - Oh it’s lovely, exactly as I expect from Strongberry.

I gotta say all of the above are pretty neck & neck for top spots for entirely different reasons. BL is seriously giving right now!

Sahara-sensei to Toki-kun (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 8fin - In the end this is mostly a piece about courage, and the rewards and disappointments that being courageous entails. Sadly, I personally didn’t have the courage to enjoy it. Featuring a chaos nugget bad boy student who falls madly in love with his teacher, this should’ve been My Thing. But Japan failed me. It happens sometimes. The leads had no chemistry, and the age gap rather than being a narrative driver and source of conflict, was just ignored. 7/10 

It's Done

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - will binge when I have any spare time. 2024 is crazy busy for me so far.

The Servant and the Young Master - from Vietnam so I assume it's on YouTube. I never even noticed. Anyone got a link?

Began Beginning (Myanmar YouTube) - Is TRUST Entertainment bringing us the first ever Burmese BL? I don't know if it's really the first, but @heretherebedork vouched for it, so I will give it a watch through.

The Whisperer (Thai Horror) - @all-you-had-to-do-was-neigh commented with the following: "MASSIVE content warning for extreme ableism, homophobia, and rape plots done for shock value. I don't recommend it, and if any of your followers decide to watch it proceed with caution."

So... yeah, I won't be watching it.

It's Airing But...

[NO INTERNATIONAL] Cherry Magic (Sat YouTube) ep 3 of 12 - yeah Japan put the smack down on our boys. Sadness. You can use a VPN if you like. Read all about it here.

Ossans Love Season 2 (Japan Gaga) - 5 years later, will anything have changed? This is Japan so… probubly not. I won't be watching this. I disliked Season one and actively hated the follow ups. No thank you.

Playboyy (Thurs Gaga) 14 eps - Dear Playboyy, it's not you, it’s me… I hate you. You’re about as deep (and as palatable) as a shot glass of cum. While I'm sure you’re someone’s kink, you're my weakest link. Goodbye. I DNFed this at ep 5. Frankly I'm impressed with myself for getting that far.

7 Days Before Valentine (Weds WeTV) 12 eps - Giving me Luminous Solution vibes. I'm waiting to binge if safe.

Dead Friend Forever (Thai Sat iQIYI) 12 eps - horror, meh, tell me if it's worth my time?

Time the series (Tue Gaga/YT) 10 eps - dropped it at ep 4.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Still Coming in Feb

2/17 A Secretly Love (Thai WeTV) - Khonprot, a third-year head hazer of the engineering faculty, has a secret crush on Pluem, a tsundere fourth-year head hazer. Over the years, he's seen Pluem cycle through many girlfriends. Recently, after a public breakup, however, Khonprot thinks maybe a boy has a chance.

2/24 Unknown (Taiwan Youku) 12 eps - Older brother tough guy criminal breadwinner looks after his sister and defacto adopted little brother. Little bother falls in love with him and is sent away after a stolen kiss. But when he comes back…

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

GMMTV is officially stalking me.

I do love OffGun's particular brand of domesticity. It's fun that they and TayNew are both getting to be so soft on our screens. It's very comforting, like a family favorite warm toddy. (Cooking Crush)

Korea, what's gotten into you? Are you feeling okay? Such bold weaponized gayness isn't like you at all. (Love for Love's Sake)

The Sign, forcing me to ask the eternal question.

I LOVES THEM YOUR HONOR. (Pit Babe)

(Last week)

[glowcircuit]

I built a miniature Va11 Hall-A Bar inside of my PC!!

Va11 Hall-A PC Parts & Build list

PC:

CPU : Intel I9 14900k

GPU: Intel Arc A770 16gb

Ram: Corsair Dominator 64gb 5600

Mobo: Maxsun Terminator Z790 D5 wifi

Hard drives M.2: Samsung 990 pro 2tb, Samsung 970 evo plus 1tb, CT 1tb,                                 Adata 500gb

PSU: ROG Thor 850 P2

Cables: Cablemod.com custom shortened and sleeved

Water loop distro : EKWB FLT 120 reservoir + D5 pump

Water loop cpu block: ThermalTake Pacific Mx2 Ultra 

Water loop radiators: Alphacool HPE 20 x 2

Water loop hardware: 15 Alphacool, 3 EKWB, 2 Alphacool soft, 2 granzon    

Water loop tubes: EKWB Acrylic tube 14mm, Alphacool 13/10 soft

Air Cooling : ThermalTake Toughfan 120mm x 3  + Controller

Air Cooling : Noctua 40mm pwm server fan x 2 (non visible)

Additional RGB Control : Coolermaster controller

Case:

Lian Li PC V600, left side mount, released in 2006, I acquired it in 2015 from PC Recycle in sodo Seattle.

I had to track down a new foot, one had been missing since I acquired the case (ebay)

Mods:These are the case mods I did personally

Cut a hole for the cpu mounts in the Motherboard mount plate as this case was designed for older hardware 

Cut two 120mm blowholes and added aluminum covers (Dremel)

Cut Front and rear windows into side panels (Dremel Max)

Moved PSU from vertical placement in the lower right side of the case in front of the CPU  to horizontal placement in the top left in old drive bays. 

The PSU bracket had to be cut to show the OLED on the side. 

Modded the side panel rail slide to accommodate the PSU, I used the original aluminum stand the psu was on, cut in half and epoxied with JB weld. 

Changed and moved Power/ Reset switch to the back of the case, shortened and spliced the cable

I cut and bent my own 14mm acrylic tubes (hobby miter, heat gun). 

Cut and made two way mirror for the front panel

Plastic "truss" is both functional and aesthetic. It came from a Gunpla accessory kit and has two cables passing through it and it acts as the GPU support. I could only get red and had to paint it.

Notice that some logos are missing/ covered, I dislike having a case as an advertisement. The Rog eye on the PSU is mostly covered but iykyk, most of the word "Intel" on the ARC GPU, Two of the Thermaltake logos on the fan edges, the Paint on the Thermaltake Mx2 Ultra and Maxsun terminator heatsink. (I will eventually cover the visible SSD with a heat sink, cover the fan info on the rear and work a cover for the word "dominator"). the one logo explicitly unchanged is the LianLi case badge, if I think of a perfect replacement, maybe then.

Mod I did not do:

I did NOT shorten and sleeve my own cables, I used cable-mod.com. I am not confident in my ability to do this.

BAR:

"Bar Tiny" Re-ment sets from Japan, 17 sets involved. 

 I customized the color of the bar and chairs and shortened one table for the mezzanine. The whole bar, minus barback- is on a removable 7 inch piece of black acrylic for cleaning.

Jill Stingray Nendoroid

Jils Cat, it sleeps on the GPU

Jill Stool: Jill is glued to a cute doll stool to see over the bar

Jill Accessories non-Nendoroid: cellphone, purse, coat (ebay)

Dorothy Haze Nendoroid

will be added on release.

Bar Back:I made this myself

Black acrylic sheet, and frosted acrylic rods.

Doll Light power kit: 8 Led lights, 4 incandescent lights

USB Doll light power strip

Other Bar Accessories:

Overhead Hanging farmhouse light

trash, mop, broom, pan, mop bucket, 

2 blue fuzzy chairs 

Miniature plants

Miniature Microphone

Mini bottle Dom Perignon, an xmas gift from my friend nemo, it's

 on the top shelf 

Problems and changes:

1. ARGB, pretty pretty pain in the ass. 4 pieces of software........

2. The water loop was changed extensively as hardware came in and space limitations were discovered. The biggest change is that I originally planned to have one radiator on the front of the case, the tubes running over Jills head and to light the tubes as lighting for the bar, to do this the fan would have been in the case proper pushing the whole bar to far into the mobo, it didn't work, so the loop was moved to the top of the case and caused me to have one complex bent tube 

 Second, I had planned the loop to use one sideport on the distro, but space limitation moved both ports to the top causing the complex fittings setup in that corner.   

3. The MOBO, sigh. This has been clearly the most challenging choice I made in this build, I really wanted it to work perfectly too, but I rolled those dice because: Aesthetic+function, the board I wanted (https://en.colorful.cn/en/home/product?mid=84&id=400d19bc-5655-49e1-b391-df00b60935ef) was to great a risk for the cost. This was a silver medal. 

I generally dislike the design options I had in the Z790 series of the big board makers (I  HATE big logos), especially the full ATX, there was one M that interested me, I should have picked it . This board has potential, but the BIOS is underdeveloped and compatibility has been problematic, I had to do a tricky outdated style BIOS update right from the box, and have had to reset the cmos a couple times. It skips BIOS on general boot and though stable, it will have to be addressed eventually, it doesn't have a proper sleep because of some issue between uefi & legacy. It may end up replaced, which will require a full build teardown.

the Turbo fan built into the board doesn't seem to function

Alos, the two argb connections on the mobo dont work, or I can't get them to recognize anything, necessitating the Coolermaster controller for the PSU and Distro. it is shoved behind the distro along with a Noctua 40mm

[bxddiebloss]

✦ In which you and Nagi spend the rest of your life together.

✦ Fluff.

✦ Part one here.

✦ Part two here.

⟡ masterlist

⟡ A/N: Thank you for requesting a third part! <3

After Blue Lock, Nagi stayed in Manshine City. But of course, he was invited to play for the Japan national team and accepted.

He practiced every day but he always made time for you, Choki and his video games. But you more than the others.

But one specific detail that was left out was that Nagi proposed to you, in a very special way (and didn’t even get help from Reo!).

8 months ago, you both celebrated your anniversary, Nagi taking you to your favorite fancy restaurant.

After that, y’all got ice cream and walked along the pier. It was during a special occasion, so there were a lot of people walking around.

Once y’all got to a peaceful and quiet place, you leaned over the railroads and stared into the starry sky along with the fireworks.

After a few seconds, you noticed that Nagi hasn’t joined next to you on the rails so you turned around and was faced with Nagi on one knee, hands showing the beautiful ring inside the velvety box.

He waits a second before he starts speaking.

“My love, thank you for being here for my whole life. You’ve been with me since childhood and without you, I wouldn’t be where I’m at now. You forced me to join Blue Lock and thanks to that, I’m a professional player that can support us.”

You start tearing up, feeling all kinds of emotions. Happiness? Of course.

“And we’ve stayed together through the worst. Like when Reo tired to take me away from you and when we were long distance from when I was in Blue Lock. Despite that, you stayed with me and I love you for that. Thank you.”

By this time, you’re bawling your eyes out. Tears running down your face from happiness and snot coming out from your nose.

“So, will you marry me? I promise to love you forever and ever.”

As soon as he said that, you rushed into his arms and through your choked sobs, you said yes.

Nagi grabbed your left hand and slipped the pretty ring on your finger, kissing it and then kissing you.

Now, a year later, you’re married and living the best days of your life.

Supporting Nagi while he goes to practice and his games is always a thrill.

But either way, you always make Nagi breakfast, lunch, and supper.

But how does he show his love for you?

Like he always has. Cuddles are his favorite and so are little kisses from time to time.

He also loves it when he wraps a arm around your waist when both of y’all go to sleep at night in the same bedroom.

As the years passed, children came into the view. A son and a daughter.

They both inherited the gaming from their father.

And even after 20 years have passed, your children are living their best life while you and Nagi are at home, confiding in each others warmth and love.

Even Uncle Reo was apart of the picture, spoiling his niece and nephew from time to time as they got older.

But one thing was for sure, you both stayed together forever, loved each other forever, and grew old together.

This was the one thing that you always loved throughout your life.

All rights reserved to bxddiebloss. Please don’t copy or modify my works.

[rock-the-baby]

【小説：2024年GWの貧困JAPAN】

2024年のGW、衰退国家日本は通貨危機に陥り、円は数年で40%も下落していた。

かつてあれだけハワイ旅行が流行った繁栄国家は急速に衰退し、貧しく海外に行けない国民ばかりになっていた。

貧乏な白痴大衆を主な視聴者層にするテレビ局はこぞって、「日本人はハワイに行って自炊生活をしています!ハワイへの旅行客は貧乏旅行をみんなしています!」と報道していた。

「ハワイに行っても楽しくないんだ! 俺は家で遊んでるけど幸せなんだ!俺は勝利している!」と国民は精神的勝利をし、「すっぱいぶどう」を見せるテレビ局と、それをみて満足に浸る視聴者の相互補完関係は今日も保たれていた。

東京で36歳になったたかしはまだ結婚をしておらず、GWの暇を持て余していた。

海外旅行に誘う相手もいないわけではないが、友人は次々結婚していき遊ぶ人間も減り、今年は円安であまりにも高いので、趣味の一人海外旅行も行かずに、特にすることがない。

銀座や新宿、渋谷にふらっと出かけていくと、外国人観光客で店がごった返し、次から次へと商品を買っていくのをみる。

かつて白人のみ、そして次に金持ちの中国人ばかりだった観光客。

いよいよ貧しくなり果てたJAPANでは様変わりし、一体どこの国から来たのかわからない国の人々ばかりになっていて、彼らの国籍は全くわからない。

渋谷の道端で缶ビールを飲む連中に、横一列で歩いてくる人々。時折悪態をついて見下してくるような態度を取る外国人。

いよいよ富裕層だけではなく中産階級でも来られるようになった国、JAPAN。

かつて日本人が東南アジアなどにいって現地の人々を下に見て、それが態度に出ていたように、彼らにマナーも期待することはできない。

好きだった海鮮の店も外国人向け商品ばかりになり疎外感を感じる。

今や海鮮丼が3000円4000円で、もう自分では食べられない。

店の中では外国人らが「What a price! Delicious!(マジで安すぎ!うまい!)」とガツガツ食べている。

店員も外国人ばかりになり、オーナーも経営者もおそらく外国人になったのだろう。

一体自分がどこの国にいるのかわからなくなり、日本に金が落ちるのかもわからない。

疲れ切って自宅に帰り、仕方なく冷凍食品を温めて食べる。

誰かを誘って温泉旅行にでも行こうと予約サイトを開く。

一泊一人3万も出せばそこそこの宿は泊まれるだろうと思ったが、一泊5万10万は当たり前で、20万30万の宿も出てくる。

あらゆるサイトを確認したが同じで失望する。

そういえば先日大阪に出張に行ったときも会社の規定の宿予算で泊まることができなかった。

大阪の街で買い物に興じる大量の外国人たちをみて、一体なにが起きているのかを理解した。

両親にLINEをして、帰省すると伝える。

東京駅に行くと、大きなスーツケースを抱えた外国人でごった返している。

駅の広告には「Uber Eatsで美味しい食事を頼みましょう」とか、「Netflixでシティーハンターを独占配信」という広告がどこの壁にも画面にも出てきて、我が国資本の広告は藤原竜也のよくわからないSKyなんちゃらというIT製品の広告しか目立たない。

そんな自分も、Google Mapで乗り換え案内を検索し、手元にはiPhone、仕事の携帯はAndroid、東京駅まで来る途中はSpotifyで音楽を聞き、旅の写真はGoogle PhotoかiCloudに、旅行にブッキング・ドットコムやエクスペディアを使っており、新幹線に乗る前にスタバでコーヒーを買っている。

これらを使うたびに円が売られドルが買われ���円安を加速させる。

かつて世界中に自国の家電や半導体、車を輸出しまくって外貨を稼ぎ、世界トップの金持ち国家に君臨していたのは日本だと聞いても、にわかに信じがたい。

新幹線の改札に向かうが、特急券と乗車券が分かれるという極めて奇妙なシステムを理解できない外国人らが改札で混乱し、スマートEXの使い方すらわからないアナログ日本人もまた通れず混乱している。

自動改札なのに駅員が大量に配置されている風景は、毎年繁忙期の風物詩である。

東京駅で、新幹線のぞみ号に乗る。

弁当を買っていたら時間がなく、申し訳ないと思いながらもグリーン車に飛び乗って、自分の普通車車両を目指した。

東京駅を出る時に弁当を食べ始め、新横浜に到着する前に食べ終わりゴミを捨て、そこから静かに寝るのが常である。

運良くグリーン車の隣の車両だったのですぐ座席についたが、隣に座った大きな荷物を持った外国人らがどこに荷物を置けばよいのかわからず、立ち往生していた。

大型荷物置き場の予約もしていなさそうだが、荷物置き場が諸外国の鉄道と比べ極めて少ない我が国の新幹線に苦労するのは当たり前である。

無理やり荷棚に置いたりしようとしてはうまくいかず、今度は最後尾の座席の後ろのスペースを勝手に使ったりと右往左往し、あれこれと出入りが多くて自分も弁当を食べることが出来ない。

車両をよく見みると、他にも外国人が多く乗っている。

JAPAN RAIL PASSというJRが提供する格安乗り放題チケットがあるが、ひかりやこだましか乗ることが出来ない。あまりにも安すぎて日本人差別かと言われるほどだったので、こないだ値上げをした。

JAPAN RAIL PASSのおかげで多くの外国人は「ひかり・こだま」押し込まれて「のぞみ」には乗っていなかったのに、今日はやけに多い。

JAPAN RAIL PASSの値上げのせいか、それとも「円安でのぞみ安いからこれでいこうか」となったのか、それはわからない。

さっき通ったグリーン車も外国人だらけで、しかもインドかタイなのか、かつては想定もしていなかった国々の人がたくさん座っていた。

結局は「日本が安いから」たくさん乗っていることは間違いない。

デッキには、指定席を買わず自由席券でケチって乗ろうとしたのか、GWは全席指定なのを知らなかったのか、ずっと座り込んでたり立っている日本人がちらほらいる。

弁当を食べて飲み物を飲みたくとも、車内販売は先日終了した。

日本を代表する高速鉄道である東海道新幹線の車内販売すら、少子高齢化による人手不足には勝てない。

今やここで水一杯を調達することも出来ない。

東京からうっかり飲み物を持たず博多までのチケットを買ってしまったら悲惨だ。

三島を超えると車窓から、雪が多く残る5月の富士山が見える。

かつて日本国民に愛された「シンカンセンスゴイカタイアイス」こと、スジャータのアイスの販売もグリーン車に限られ、たかがアイスですら上級国民と下級国民で差をつけられる現実をひしひしと感じて辛い想いがこみ上げてくる。

そういえば、先日北陸新幹線でスノボに行った時も、グランクラスに乗っていくのは外国人、というかインド人ばかりだったのを思い出す。

格安SIMのギガ数が少ないのでケチケチと新幹線のWifiにつなごうとしたが、全く速度が出ないどころかろくにつながらず途中で諦める。

N700Sという新しい車両が導入され、一部車両ではWifiは2倍高速と言���ているのに繋がらない。

隣の外国人もWifiと悪戦苦闘し繋がらず、話しかけられたが何か助けることもできず、お互い言葉は通じないが諦めた顔をしている。

本当に通信回線が用意されているのか疑問に思いながら眠りについた。

実家の最寄り駅(といっても車で時間もかかるが)につくと、老いた父親がプリウスで迎えに来ていた。

車窓風景は何年たっても変わらないが、よくみるとなじみの店が閉店し、空き家が増え、建物は残っていても人が少なく街がひっそりしているように感じる。

家に到着すると、田舎者らしく居間には大きなテレビがありニュースを流していて、母がそこでお茶を飲んでいる。

ニュースは「本日はこちらの地域に振り込め詐欺の電話がかかってきています」などと呼びかけ、その他にも「85歳の老人がコンビニに突入しまいました」とかいうニュースが流れ、その車がプリウスであると心の中で予想すると、やはり映像にプリウスが流れる。

「外国人の爆買いは凄かったなあ」と疲れ切ってソファに座ると、テーブルの上には新聞の折込チラシが置かれていて、そのチラシをパラパラとめくって父が「ワークマンが最近いいらしいぞ」とワークマンのチラシを渡してくる。

誰かのXの投稿で「日本人がワークマンが凄いだのなんだの言ってる間に、東南アジア人はパタゴニアを着てスキーをするようになりました」と見たのは、1年半前くらいだろうか。

あ���時は「そんなことはない」と思っていたのに、迫りくる現実をひしひしと感じ、なんとも言えない悲壮感が漂ってくる。

テレビをぼーっと見ていると、夢グループの通販が始まり、誰が使うかわからないポータブルDVDプレーヤーが1万円で売られており、「やすぅ〜い!」とおばさんの歓声があがる。

「ねえ母さん、こんなの誰が買うの?」と母の方を見ると、居間のすみっこに夢グループと書かれた段ボールが置かれているのがちらりと見える。なにが入ってるのか怖くて開けられなかった。

ニュースを見ても老人向けの意見ばかり言うコメンテーターばかり、バラエティを見てもよく知らない低俗な安い芸人が飯を食ったり、ガハハとつまらない話でひな壇で笑い合うだけのものばかりしかない。

CMにはコンドロイチンとか腰痛、尿もれパッドだのといった広告ばかりが流れ、同じ国なので東京と田舎でここまで違うかと驚愕する。

ワークマンの折込チラシの横においてある新聞を開いてみる。

母がむかし「高級紙」と呼んでいた朝日新聞。

「天声人語というのがあったな」と昔を思い出していると、母がおもむろに「こんなのが最近は本屋さんにあるのよ」と「天声人語書き写しノート」という公式の謎ノートを差し出してくる。これが累計500万冊以上売れてるらしい。

発行部数が減り実質不動産屋となって食いつないでいる会社の政治思想機関紙が、今でもこうして高齢有権者に幅広く読まれている現実を知って、複雑な気持ちになる。

数年前、YouTubeの見すぎで陰謀論にハマり、ディープステートだロスチャイルドだと毎日言い続けていた父。

地元の友人も離れていった者も少なくはない。

そこでNetflixやAmazon Primeを契約しインストールしたiPadをプレゼントし、YouTubeとの接点を消したのが一昨年の年末であった。

陰謀論を唱えることは多少減ったものの、右翼韓国嫌いの父はNetflixは韓ドラばかりで嫌だと言うので、U-NEXTを契約して日本や中国のドラマも見れるようにしたのが去年の年末。

あれから4ヶ月経ったが、U-NEXTでは実は隠し機能でアダルト作品が見放題になったのを私は知らなかった。

案の定、自慢げにiPadを町内会に持っていった時にうっかり視聴中の熟女系アダルト作品が大音量で再生されてしまったそうで、なかなか停止の操作もできず、大きな恥をかいたという。

アダルトの世界も女優の高齢化が進んでいるというが、視聴者が高齢者が増えているのが理由なのだろうか。

元気にこんな騒動をしている親も将来介護が必要になると思うとつらい思いがある。

いつか家を処分するのを見越して、私がかつて着ていた服とか、使っていた本とかを処分していく。

私が寝泊まりしていたかつての子供部屋には、ショップチャンネルやQVCの箱が山積みされ、食べ物や健康グッズなどを買った形跡があり、母が浪費をしていないか心配になる。

戸棚からカセットテープやCD、MDが大量に出てくるが、カセットテープからMDへの進化には当時誰もが感動したのに、もう今や誰も使っていない。

ソニーのウォークマンに電池を入れて久々に再生してみるとまだ動くことに感動し、浜崎あゆみのSeasonsが流れ、当時の情景が思い浮かんでくる。

ケツメイシの「さくら」が流れてくると、自然に手に取ってしまった高校の卒業アルバムを開いた。

一緒に勉強や部活を頑張っていた彼らはいまどこでなにをやっているのだろうか。

音楽は記憶を蘇らせる道具だなと感心する。

優秀だった何人かの名前を検索して見ると、大企業で管理職についていたり、外科医となり手術をこなして人を救っていたり、田舎に残って地元のイベントを盛り上げていたり、名前が出てくると嬉しくなる。

「あいつらも頑張ってるんだな」と思うと、自分も腐らず頑張ろうと思えるのは、いつの時代も同じなのだろうか。

頑張って活躍してる彼らに連絡を取れたらと思っても、携帯メールが衰退しLINEなどが勃興した今、連絡先は断絶している。

高校時代や大学時代のメアドに連絡してもきっと届かないだろうと思うと、技術の進化と人間関係の継続性については本当に進化をしているのだろうか、と考える。

そうこうしているうちに夕食の時間になった。

久々の帰省で張り切って高い肉を買ってきたのだろう、久々のステーキだった。

彼らはもう年金暮らしだが、お金はあるのだろうか。

「こんな良い食材わざわざ買ってこなくてもいいのに」

そう言っても、

「いやいや、たいしたもんじゃないよ」

と返す父と母。

陰謀論にはまろうが、怪しい通販にハマろうが、子を想う親の心は消えていないことに少し安心する。

「同級生の春奈ちゃん、二人目の子供産んだって」

「成績良かった大介くんは、トヨタで働いてるんですって」

「栄町の美奈子ちゃん、不妊治療でやっと1人目生まれたらしいわよ、よかったわね」

どれも本人たちに直接聞いた話でもなんでもない。

田舎人たちは、ITもクラウドもキャッシュレスも遅れているはずなのに、都会人よりも他人の個人情報を細かく早く把握しているのはなぜだろう。

自分は、同級生たちにどんな情報が伝わっているのだろうか。

「なあ、たかしはいい人はおらんのか?」

ビールで酔った父からそう言われても、

「いや、特に」

としか返すことも出来ず、美味しいステーキのはずが味が落ちていく。

なんとも言えない雰囲気になるが、

「つらいことあったら、いつでも帰ってこいよ」

と父が言う。

それから両親とはたいして多くを語り合うことはなく、休みも最終日を迎えた。

翌日、東京へ帰るバス停に両親が送ってくれた。

同じように、都会へ帰っていく若者たちが何人かバスを待っている。

バス停のプレートもずいぶん劣化し錆びてきている。

地面のアスファルトも割れが目立つ。

「つらいことがあったら、いつでも帰ってこいよ」

父がまた同じことを言う。

バスに乗り、車窓から両親を見る。少しさびしそうな顔をして、前より小さくな��たような気がした。

バス停のアスファルトの割れ目からは、たんぽぽが咲いているのが見えた。

そのたんぽぽが、妙に力強く、たくましく見えた。

バスが発車すると、どんどん小さくなる両親。

両親も私も、お互いが見えなくなるまで、ずっとずっとお互いを見つめていた。

—終---

https://x.com/japantank/status/1786595831841509692?s=12&t=2udZ4HodM8nXVRmb1FbVUA

[sanzu-sanzu-sanzu]

sae

i think that more than sae’s switching from striker to midfielder what’s sadder for me upon knowing the bit that we now know of the itoshi backstory (note: through rin’s pov) is the whole fact that sae had to go through it all while being in an entirely different country. at 13 years old. completely by himself. apart from having to face this huge wake-up call regarding his skill level with regards to the world’s, he also had to deal with the crushingly different environment, language, culture, and people. no way that those did not affect his getting the results that he wanted.

this got me thinking that, even though (i’m guessing) the more widely accepted reading right now is that sae’s got his ego crushed, i also feel there’s another possible explanation for sae’s extreme bitterness regarding japanese football. (yes, it’s extreme, he doesn’t even wanna be associated with it!) japan propped him as their ‘striker’ because in a way he was the closest thing they had to a striker. and then he gets to play in a world-class setting and realizes that japan was not developing his true talent at all, which could mean two things:

1) the football he grew up playing prioritized teamwork more than the individual (and this is exactly what ego jinpachi is railing against when he started blue lock) and so this mentality hampered his striker motivations/his ego. 

2) sae realizes that they were blowing smoke up his ass because they wanted him to be that striker, when they actually didn’t know what a striker was or was supposed to be; and hence he’d lost some precious time training, instead, for the role that fit his skill-set better: being a midfielder.

because sae’s the kinda guy who sets unforgiving standards—even and especially to himself—in pursuing his goals, standards that even made him recognize the brutal realism that he isn’t fit for best striker in the world, hence his laser focus on being best midfielder instead. he’s not gonna waste his perfect passes on strikers that are unable to score, he’s not gonna waste his energy on a team that won’t be able to keep up with him, and he’s not about to waste his time and his future in a country, in a football, that’ll waste his potential. if someone like him finds out that his time was wasted that way, of course he’s gonna be furious and unforgiving. (not that it’s too late now, but he could’ve started earlier, you know what i mean..)

it’s no wonder the ideals and philosophy of blue lock appealed to him then (whereas the current japanese football federation could eat shit as far as he’s concerned lol) especially with their focus on the assertion of one’s ‘ego.’ the insistence that your football shouldn’t have to depend on a teammate/your team/someone else to be great, because you yourself should have that power, the confidence/ego, and the skill to back it up. sae, anri, and ego are probably all in the agreement that these are the vital things that could help a japanese football player in the world stage.

i always thought it fascinating how there seem to be some parts in the story wherein ego (or even anri) would be explaining something, a blue lock principle or whatever, as if he were speaking to or referring to sae, even without sae being mentioned or shown in the page. blue lock is for players like sae (and oliver aiku, and many others that came before) as much as it is for the younger, much more ‘unpolished gems’ like rin, isagi, barou, etc. 

i also think that while the sentiment (throughout blue lock maybe) seems to be that the striker is the best position of all and that everything else: meh, and that sae is somewhat of a tragic character for ‘settling’ on being a midfielder, i hardly think it’s tragic. it’s fair to think so (because plot) but it’s really not so bad, considering there’s many midfielder stars out there in the world, too. nowhere in the story did it also say that sae couldn’t compare to the strikers of the world; he only said that the world is filled with amazing players, and that he wants to become the top midfielder in the world not because he lost to strikers...i mean, seeing him play, his scoring ability is very much still top notch even for a midfielder. he simply has very high standards, so if he’s at his best in his passing, he wouldn’t be expecting any less from a scorer.

the striker being the like ‘main character’ in the team (according to blue lock) is not a bad thing, though—i mean they are the principal scorers so they kind of are in a way lol—because for the purposes of ‘reseting’ their current football landscape and mentality, that’s kind of important. i guess blue lock is like, we’re all about building the no. 1 striker because it’s what japan needs at the moment, but it goes without saying that the other positions are just as important, too.

[brilliant-red-eternity]

[Psycho-Pass Providence spoilers]

I thought long and hard about sharing spoilers with you on my blog, but here they are: a buffet for Shinkane fans! I can’t guarantee that the spoilers are 100% correct since I haven’t seen the movie myself and translations can be messy, but I try my best – feel free to correct me, to add things or to call me a crackpot and liar!

I had a feeling that many of you would like to know (at least to some extent) what this movie is about and if Shinkane becomes canon. It will probably take some time for PPP to be released outside Japan and as we all know, patience is a virtue. Don’t read if you don’t want spoilers. I’m serious! There are major spoilers in this text! But if you don’t mind, here’s a summary of what I picked up from Japanese fans who have already seen the movie:

1. The first meeting with Unit One after Ko’s return goes as expected: Ginoza is angry and Sugo has to prevent him from going off on Kogami. The atmosphere between Akane and Kogami is described as awkward and tense even when working together on the new case. They travel to Dejima (?) and Saiga accompanies Akane because he’s the only one who can access the Stronskaya document.

2. When Kogami and Saiga have a drink in the apartment/hotel, Saiga urges Ko to contact Akane and to come clean with her. He obeys by calling her. Akane tells him to apologize (“I just want you to say sorry”) but he doesn’t, so she hangs up the phone. Kogami seems to be very irritated and I can’t wait to see his face. Also what is the meaning of the empty liquor bottle on Ko’s table?

3. Ginoza asks Kogami on the boat “Why did you come back? It was our duty to protect Tsunemori” to which Kogami answers something like “For someone else’s sake again.” Does it mean that he came back for Akane? I think so. Ginoza seems to smile a little when he hears this.

4. We already saw the scene where Ko shields Akane from the explosion, but I don’t know exactly what happens afterwards. They say the angle of view is a little erotic (this can also be translated as horny, obscene) LOL

5. When the Peacebreakers attack, Saiga-sensei dies. I think he gets stabbed and then falls over a railing into the depths of the building. Akane tries to save him but he lets go of her hand so that she doesn’t fall with him. Phew! This is going to be hard to watch. No wonder why the Japanese fans cried! When Akane finds his dead body, the one who comforts her is Ginoza. Ko goes after Akira to fight him in a landscape holo room (?) aka that scene with the horse.

6. Now the elevator scene. Akane cries over the death of Saiga but Kogami seems unable to comfort her. Something holds him back (his own grief maybe?) so he just pats her on the shoulder saying something like “Focus on your duty, and cry after everything is over” and Akane says “Yes”. It sounds a bit heartless and reserved, doesn’t it? Why all the drama?

7. Then there’s an interrogation at SAD or PSB headquarters and Kogami gets shot by the arrested Akira whose consciousness was hacked. Ko ends up in the hospital where Akane visits him and finally they talk to each other and come to an agreement. This is very reminiscent of PP1.

8. I was a bit surprised to hear that Akane is invited to Kei’s wedding and that Arata’s dad commits suicide in his car after giving a speech. Really? On the wedding day of his son’s best friend? Did Arata witness this? Holy sh--! At least, I read that Akane followed Arata into the parking lot and perhaps was able to comfort him.

9. Akane leads the operation to stop the Peacebreakers. Before she leaves (gets on the plane?) Kogami is worried and says “Hey, don’t do anything reckless” and she replies “I can’t promise you that, so you better come quickly please.” Is she flirting with him? I think it’s cute and quite self-confident.

10. When Akane is defeated in the fight against the white haired man who points a gun to her head, Kogami rushes to her aid. The plan was to arrest the guy but things went out of hand. Kogami shoots him and then he hugs the injured Akane – yes, that’s what it says in the comments! I can’t wait to see this! I read that Akane says something like “I made Kougami-san kill again” to which he answers “And I will be held accountable for it”. The hug seems to have been a request from director Shiotani, because (as we already know) Akane and Ko won’t see each other for a long time after that.

11. The end is a bit confusing and I’m not sure if I got it right: Kogami is arrested and Akane writes him a letter that is just as emotional as Ko’s letter in PP1. She says that he had a great influence on her life and that she can’t promise him anything. Then she goes off to kill chief Kasei during some public event (?) because Sibyl wants to introduce a new bill that would strip the Ministry of Justice of all authority (?). Akane’s crime coefficient is low because you can’t kill a cyborg. But from the public’s perspective, she’s a killer. She seems to sacrifice herself for the dream of a just society that abides by the law instead of Sibyl’s despotism. Now Sibyl has to judge her. They have to reveal and explain her low CC without looking like idiots. Good luck, Sibyl! Akane seems to have set a precedent in PPP.

12. Kogami goes free and Akane is sent to the isolation facility where she finally breaks down and cries. He promises to pick her up when she is released – and so he does in FI when he finally manages to apologize! Some fans say that even though Kogami’s crimes aren’t punished by law it’s clear from his emotions that Akane’s imprisonment is his punishment. His actions had an impact on others, especially on someone he cherishes and loves. But unlike Kogami who killed out of revenge and violated the law, Akane has committed a crime in order to uphold the law. The Japanese fans cried at the end. Kogami must look pretty miserable! Seems as if Shinkane has a habit of breaking each other’s hearts and ours too, huh? But we know they will reunite in FI, so there’s hope! And who knows what the future holds.

Well, the movie covers many issues: foreign politics, references from the bible, Bifrost, new technology and AI, lots of action and so on. It’s quite exhausting to do research in Japanese as a beginner, so I only focused on the things I wanted to know. In other words: Akane, Kogami, Ginoza and Shinkane! I can’t wait for this movie to be released in my country, although I think it will probably be another year :’(

One last thing: speculations about the nature of the relationship between Akane and Kogami are running wild on social media again but all I can say is that if only a mere 20% of the above is true, then you can’t speak of platonic. Sorry, it’s not possible! There are far too many emotions, far too much awkwardness here that you don’t go through as “just friends”. They’re not a couple, but both of them are probably aware that they could become one if they chose to.

[aheckinmess]

Weak Spot (Dad Sukuna)

(Part 1 of Cursed, Not Cute.)

Read on AO3.

Tags: Dad Sukuna, OC Child, Mildly Out of Character?, I Mean I Tried, I Really Tried to Keep Him in Character, Given the Circumstances, But Just in Case, Sukuna's Daughter, And Yes She Has His Sass

Word Count: 1,021 words

Summary: After Ryomen Sukuna has complete control of Japan as the King of Curses, he has a child that he's determined to train into a vessel of villainy, just like him. Things don't exactly go according to plan.

Sukuna should have seen it coming the second the damned woman told him she was with child. A night of passion and lust had resulted in a child of his own. One that he knew would be hellbent on destruction, just like him.

“I will raise you to be stronger even than me.” Flames reflected in his red eyes as he glared over the crumbled city below. He rocked her in his arms to the cadence of screaming victims below. “You cannot be weak if you’re going to inherit my legacy.”

A little girl with pink and brown hair looked up at him, babbling and cooing with a radiant smile. A smile reflecting paternal affection, dependence, and unyielding trust.

These were emotions he’d always thought he’d easily dismiss when the child was born. But truth be told? She wrapped him around her finger a little more with every passing day.

“We will rule this world together, you and I.” He promised.

The moment he felt such buzzing warmth for her, he should have killed her. Hell, he should have killed Asuka as soon as she’d said she was pregnant. Killed two birds with one stone.

But now, looking into his daughter’s eyes, his resolve crumbled. Her dark, pleading eyes squeezed a part of his soul that should have been dead long ago. He grit his teeth, raising his hand again to slice off her head. She’s just another obstacle in my reign of terror and misery! She has to go!

So what stopped him?

Those eyes. Those wide, loving eyes. Eyes that still stared at him with trust and adoration even as he held her life in the balance. A respect for her father that stood unshakeable even in the face of death.

“Are you going to kill me, Father?” Her lip quivered, though he’d long since taught her to be brave and keep her head high during her final moments.

Sukuna, for once, found himself speechless. With a roar, he threw his hands down before pacing across the balcony. Four sets of knuckles gripped the railing until they turned white, flattening metal with his great strength. This damn child. This. Damn. Child!

“I apologize, Father.” Her soft voice floated over to him. “I never intended for my weakness to cause you dishonor.”

“Silence.” Sukuna’s throat tightened in his fury.

The sound of crackling flames drowned out the silence between them as she listened obediently. Perhaps that’s why I’m so remiss to end her life. She's strong. Strong and obedient. Sukuna’s eyes met the gaze of a frantic woman clutching her child to her chest on the street as a curse cornered both of them. He flicked his wrist and the woman and her child dropped in a bloody mass without a second thought.

“I raised you to carry on my legacy,” He growled, slamming his fist down against the damaged metal and turning to her. For once, his brows wrinkled with pain, something he hadn’t felt in years. “Yet you stand before me, unwilling to follow the path of destruction I’ve set. Do you think I would just support your path of good fortune to others?!”

Her second set of hands always gave her away. While the bottom pair stayed by her side, she hid the top pair behind her back, fidgeting as her eyes glistened.

“No, sir.” She whispered.

“Do you expect me to accept such weakness from my own flesh and blood?!”

“No, sir.”

“Then what do you expect, Besu?!” He snapped, digging his nails into her cheeks as his frustration mounted.

“I don’t know.” She admitted.

Blood marred the sides of her face as he tried one more time to use his great strength to bring her a swift end. But he could only watch the blood drip from her chin before he pulled his hand back.

“Well, I don’t know either!” He huffed, raking two hands through his hair as the other two rested on his hips. With a heavy sigh, he responded as softly as the Curse King had ever dared. “I know what I should do.”

She didn’t say anything, and neither of them needed to. Sukuna knew she was a brilliant child. She was his offspring, after all. So she knew he should kill her, as opposed to giving her a gentle ending. They both knew he lacked gentleness with everyone.

Everyone but her. Why her?! I killed Asuka as soon as Besu no longer needed her milk. So why? Why, why, why?!

“I love you.”

Those words. Those damned words! Only she had ever uttered them. He’d never found a need for them from anyone else.

He whipped his hand around and bruised her cheek with the flat of his palm. She barely flinched and kept her back straight.

She knew not to say such things. She knew. Words had power. Those three little words already drove him to his knees as he rubbed a thumb over the growing welt, healing it in seconds.

“Love is weak.” He hissed, looking directly into her eyes. “I’ve told you that time and time again, Besu. You know that love is weak and…and…” He paused, waiting for the anger to pummel relentlessly into her before he broke. “And…and dammit, I love you too!” He clutched her against his chest. “I love you and I hate it!”

For those few moments he could only hold her and wish she were a newborn again, reveling in the fallen world with him. He wished she were not this sweet and precious 7-year-old holding his heart in the palm of her hands as she told him she didn’t want to be evil. He wished he did not feel this overwhelming urge to protect her until his dying breath. He wished he did not enjoy the relief that flooded him knowing she still breathed against his chest, trusting him with every inhale and exhale.

No. He wished he did not have a daughter at all. Because for the first time in history, Ryomen Sukuna had a weak spot.

And he knew it wouldn’t take long for the world to notice.

[kouyuzu]

Another Day

*Was listening to Save Your Tears by The Weekend when I wrote this, but I wouldn't call it a song fic, and it's a little different

*1786 words

*Sae x gn! Reader [angst/ hint of fluff]

~~~

Sae hates Japan and everything it reminds him of. Of how the country could never produce a striker, or any teammate that could be worthy of receiving his passes, and when a program cropped up to do that— it included his lukewarm little brother. Playing against the bluelock 11 ‘team’ will be so easy. It’s what he stuck around for afterall, but he’s not ready to see you.

You are the only thing he hates equally to Japan’s football league. YOU, standing there in the stands with your eyes trained on… yup. His lukewarm loser of a brother.

A small flare in his chest ignites as he takes in your face. How your hair shines under the lights of the stadium, a small halo from the way the mist lingers in the air. He jumps up a couple of times to get his blood moving, because not going to let anyone get the better of him, especially not since he’s met the others on the U-20 team. They’re going to destroy Bluelock 11, and prove that there is no worthy egoist in Japan (let alone 11 of them). And then Sae can go back to Spain and forget about this cursed country.

There’s barely any history between you and him anyways, and five years is plenty of time for him to claim that he doesn’t recognize you, and has forgotten. That’s what he tells himself as he keeps the ball just outside of the Bluelock11 penalty area. He dribbles just a little bit behind the tall one who’s been saying the most lukewarm statements about being ‘glam.’ He’s not distracted. He can’t afford to show his brother a lukewarm version of himself, because that doesn’t exist. Not even in front of you. Especially not in front of you.

Maybe Sae got into his head too much because after the game, he can’t even be bothered to care about the results. The only thing he’s thankful for is that Shidou feels the same way, because if he didn’t, someone would have a trip to the emergency room. The rest of the team files off of the field towards the locker rooms and Sae doesn’t mean to look back over his shoulder. He especially doesn’t mean to look directly at the section of the stands where you’re now at the railing and smiling down at Rin. At his younger brother— that lukewarm motherfucker. Of course you would grow closer to Rin after Sae left for Spain, but to be close enough that you’re blowing kisses at him… He doesnt mean to stare as he watches Rin smile. Actually smile back at you, even though he doesn’t return the cheesy gesture.

Teal eyes are watching you long enough for you to look up and catch him. Sae’s brows are furrowed at the scene, and Rin follows your gaze. There’s an eternal second where your mouth parts slightly, and then his name on your lips and a single glint over your cheek bone as a tear falls from the corner and slides across your skin, pale from the overhead lighting, the one pearlescent orb reflecting rainbows as it falls. Ten meters from where Sae stands across the field. He turns for the locker room because he doesn’t want to watch you cry over him. Not again.

The team is going to celebrate and meet the Bluelock 11 team, but Sae doesn’t want to do that. He’s letting his intrusive, repulsively lukewarm, thoughts tear through his mind. Should he go speak to you? It’s been five years since you last spoke. Since you found him the night before his flight to Spain playing soccer at night. You always found him before anyone else began to think to look.

As the Itoshi’s next door neighbor and only friend through middle school, being exactly one year between him and Rin was so perfect. For twelve years you were a constant in their lives, even though you sucked at football. At least you supported his move to Spain. That's what he hates the most about you though— how supportive you are.

His last image of you is fresh in his mind as you told him with tears in your eyes that you wanted what was best for him, and Sae looked back at you with his gorgeous aqua lifeless, blank eyes and said that he didn’t give a fuck what you cared. If this image is in his mind, the first snow stinging his face and you crying— of course you’re crying, you were always crying until Rin showed up— then you have the same image. Sae left you in the field that night, and he’ll do it again. Right now.

Once Sae changes and is standing with the U20 team and some of the guys from the bluelock team, someone speaks up.

“Where’s Rin?” Isagi asks.

Various responses of “I don’t know,” and “who cares?” are returned. Sae’s gritting his teeth as he thinks about that interaction between you and Rin. Maybe Rin is in the stands holding you, and returning that kiss you sent him, but with his own lips.

This ego is going to be the death of him, as Sae drops his bag at Shidou’s feet and starts running for the stands. In his chest his heart is pounding and he can feel the ache in his calves as he sprints up the stairs to get to the stands. He can reach you he knows he can— and there you are, standing at the railing still. Your back is to him, and there’s a hand to your face as you swipe at your eyes. When your fingers fall to the railing there’s a slight shine as the tears linger on your skin.

“Fuck,” Sae whispers in the still air. The stadium feels hot and suffocating, the air muggy and weighing down on Sae as he stares at you. He waits for an infinite second before slowly walking up behind you. But what the hell does he say to you?

“Rin?” You whimper, and turn around as soon as Sae stands behind you.

Sae sighs gently and in a flat voice says, “guess again.”

Your breath catches and you can't help the hiccup that escapes your mouth. Eyes are wide under your lashes which are collecting small drops of condensation from the air, or maybe residue from your crying. You can’t take a step back but Sae notices how your legs shift to move towards the railing. Your throat moves as you swallow.

“Hi… Long time no see…” Sae says. His voice is low, but not as threatening as he thought he was going to come off as.

You glance behind you, but the field is empty since the only other person left was Rin, but he’s in the locker room.

Sae rakes a hand through his hair and he turns to look behind him too, making sure that Rin isn’t going to hear how pathetic he's about to sound.

You’re shifting from foot to foot with your bottom lip locked between your teeth in nerves, and even trying to sneak peaks past him since Sae knows you’re waiting for Rin.

He needs your eyes on him though, so he takes a step in to face you. “(Y/n),” he says. “Look… I fucked up.”

Your breath catches again. “...what?”

“I’m sorry,” Sae clarifies. His hand flits to the back of his neck for a second as he thinks about how to say the next part. He wants to apologize for leaving you, but he needs to improve. He needs to be better. “I ran away from you, because I needed to train.”

You exhale shakily, a whispered “S-Sae,” leaving your lips.

Sae sighs a little more heavily than he means to. You crying right now is the last thing he wants, but it'd be perfectly in character.

“Your training went well,” you say to him, your voice wavering and revealing that you believe the words even though you don't want to. “Sae… you were incredible out there.”

“I've been working hard,” Sae agrees, and shoves his hands into the pockets of his track pants. He traces your face from the way your eyebrows are pushed together in anxiety, to the shine in your eyes. “What's wrong?” he asks.

“Nothing,” you say simply, but lower your gaze to his shoes. There's a deep inhale from you as you continue, “but…” Another second before you let out a soft, “I missed you.” Your voice is quiet under the blanket of night, and Sae feels as cold as the night he left you crying on the soccer field with flurries of snow flying past your faces.

“I’m sorry,” Sae says. His voice is low, although he accidentally used his press-voice, and his tone is flat. “I needed to get stronger.”

“You did,” you agree, your eyes finally meeting his own. “Will you go back to Spain?”

Sae allows his features to even out and his mouth settles into a line instead of a frown. “We lost,” he finally acknowledges, “so I need to continue training.”

Your breath is shallow and you reach your arms out for Sae and slot your own arms around his torso, holding him tightly. “I know you have to leave, but I don't want you to.”

Sae takes one hand out of his pocket and places it on top of your head, patting a couple of times. He doesn't know what to say because he doesn't want any attachment to Japan when he has to leave. And he has to leave because the game against BlueLock 11 confirmed that maybe there is a striker out there who isn't lukewarm, and Sae will need to keep up with them so he can make the best crosses when the time comes to play with him, whoever that might be.

“I'll miss you, Sae,” you say into his U-20 jacket. “I don't want you to leave again.”

He wants to say it back. He wants to save you from the tears but he wants to be internationally recognized in the football community even more. But if you wait for him, maybe another day he’ll be able to tell you these disgusting, lukewarm thoughts.

For now though, Sae’s free arm wraps around your shoulders to hug you back, strong arms pulling you into his chest as you start to sob in earnest again. This time is different though because Sae won't leave your heart broken. He can't allow himself another five or even ten years without you, so he leans his head down next to your ear to murmur, “once I become the number one midfielder, I’ll come back for you, (Y/N).”